Instead theyвЂ™re more likely to be found at relaxed social gatherings, where bottles of tequila and Squirt soda are scattered on tables for self-service tequila cocktails. ItвЂ™s true, though!! But you probably wonвЂ™t find a classic Mexican paloma listed on a bar menu in Mexico. Wait, WHAT?!? I would have surely guessed the most popular cocktails would be margaritasвЂ¦ WouldnвЂ™t you? Surprisingly, he also went on to tell me about how palomas are actually THE most popular mixed drinks with tequila in Mexico. You know, because these tequila cocktails with Squirt are SO cheap to make! So I tried one, and it was pretty much LOVE AT FIRST SIPвЂ¦ And thatвЂ™s the story of how my drink of choice became palomas - or as I like to call them, the poor manвЂ™s margarita. Jarritos grapefruit soda is another great choice for a tequila soda, though itвЂ™s not as easy to find in the United States. He said yep, Squirt is whatвЂ™s used most often in the classic recipe. Sounds pretty freaking good to me! IвЂ™m game for a paloma drinkвЂ¦ So grapefruit soda is the best soda to mix with tequila? You mean like Squirt soda?!? ItвЂ™s a simple cocktail with a fruity profile thatвЂ™s made with grapefruit soda, white tequila, a squeeze of lime juice, and a little salt. What IS a paloma? And whatвЂ™s IN a paloma? In his words: the most common paloma recipe is not fussy or complicated. Now, palomas werenвЂ™t even on my radar at the time, so I asked for details (of course!)вЂ¦ WhatвЂ™s A Paloma? He suggested that I try a paloma cocktail. Those store bought margarita drink mixes? Yeah, theyвЂ™re waayyy too sweet for my tasteвЂ¦ And IвЂ™ve tried making my own homemade margarita mix, but 1) it tastes different every time because the quality and acidity of the limes can vary so much, and 2) limes keep going up, up, up in price, making it kind of expensive to experiment.ДЄ few years ago, I mentioned my struggles to a friend and that I was on the hunt for new tequila drink recipes. When it comes to mixed drinks, a classic margarita has always been my cocktail of choice - on the rocks with salt, please and thank you! But hereвЂ™s the thing, IвЂ™ve never been very successful at making margaritas at home. If youвЂ™re wondering what to mix with tequila, HEREвЂ™S your answerвЂ¦ Sometimes called a poor manвЂ™s margarita, these simple tequila drinks are inexpensive and delicious!Дr Pepper Snapple GroupВ® sponsored this post. Spiced and sweetened with jalapeГ±o-agave syrup and finished off with a dash of celery bitters to add depth and complexity, DormanвЂ™s modifications are welcome tweaks to the fail-safe formula.This super easy paloma drink recipe is made with tequila and Squirt grapefruit soda, a squeeze of lime juice, and a pinch of salt. In her Garden Paloma, Meaghan Dorman similarly leans on a steeped syrup to deliver chile heat. Swapping the effervescent element for blended ice, Lynch turns the Mexican cooler into a frothy, frozen drink. LynchвЂ™s Why Not, for example, incorporates layered dimensions of spice, with a five-chile molasses bringing heat (from ancho, pasilla, chipotle, guajillo and cayenne chile powders), bracing acidity by way of Cholula, and earthy, warming notes from cinnamon and cloves. The combination of tequila and spice is well-documented as a perennial fan favorite on bar menus-and the Paloma is a key player in its popularity.

Using the basics as inspiration, the tequila-grapefruit template can seamlessly transition from spicy to bitter to savory.

Swap the bottle of Jarritos for grapefruit juice, simple syrup and soda water, and the sweet-tart highball will draw out even more fresh, citrusy aromas. In its simplest form, the refreshing Mexican cooler is just a straightforward trio of tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda. From its earliest iterations, the Paloma has been designed with adaptability in mind.

Paloma drink